title: eXIST with matrix-associated proteins.
abstract: X-chromosome inactivation has long served as an experimental model system for understanding the epigenetic regulation of gene expression. Central to this phenomenon is the long, non-coding RNA Xist that is specifically expressed from the inactive X chromosome and spreads along the entire length of the chromosome in cis. Recently, two of the proteins originally identified as components of the nuclear scaffold/matrix (S/MAR-associated proteins) have been shown to control the principal features of X-chromosome inactivation; specifically, context-dependent competency and the chromosome-wide association of Xist RNA. These findings implicate the involvement of nuclear S/MAR-associated proteins in the organization of epigenetic machinery. Here, we describe a model for the functional role of S/MAR-associated proteins in the regulation of key epigenetic processes.
authors.affiliation: RNA Biology Laboratory, RIKEN Advanced Research Institute, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan. nakagawas@riken.jp
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Kannanganattu V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Prasanth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding; D022661:RNA, Untranslated / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D049951:X Chromosome Inactivation
chemical_list: D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding; D022661:RNA, Untranslated; C077885:XIST non-coding RNA